Bootblacks and Divine Shade are co-headlining a UK tour, starting tomorrow in Edinburgh at Bannermans.

Bootblacks is a Brookyn, New York-based post-punk band formed in 2010 and with a line-up that consists of Panther Almqvist (vocals), Barrett Hiatt (synth) and Kalle Fagerberg (guitar). Although drawing inspiration from the post-punk and darkwave movements of the 1980s, the trio also incorporate contemporary electronic elements into their sound. Bootblacks have released several albums that include “Veins” (2016), “Fragments” (2018) and “Thin Skies” (2020), and have also toured extensively throughout North America and Europe. They are currently putting the finishing touches to a new album entitled “Paradise” that will be issued soon.

A French trio formed by Ren Toner in 2014, Divine Shade is a combination of styles and influences inspired by cold wave culture, along with a touch of industrial rock and electronic music. Releasing several singles and EPs that have included remixes by Chris Vrenna (ex-Nine Inch Nails), the group have toured Europe extensively and were the opening act on Gary Numan’s 2022 UK tour.

Bootblacks and Divine Shade UK tour 2024

• 23.10.24 Edinburgh – Bannermans
• 24.10.24 Newcastle – Cluny
• 25.10.24 Glasgow – Ivory Blacks
• 26.10.24 London – Omeara Kitcat Club*
• 27.10.24 Sheffield – Corporation
• 31.10.24 Bristol – Exchange
• 01.11.24 London – Lexington

*event starts 10.30pm

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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Metropolis Records welcomes the legendary 16volt on its roster. The new release “NegativeOnArrivals” features a selection of tracks from the band’s two self-released albums, “The Negative Space” and “Dead on Arrivals”, that have been selected by the band themselves.

In addition 16volt’s founder, songwriter, lead vocalist, programmer, and rhythm guitarist Eric Powell, is working on a new album that is slated for release later this year, to be released under the title “More of Less”. “NegativeOnArrivals” is available today via Metropolis Records on CD and through all digital and streaming platforms.

About 16volt

Eric Powell signed his first record deal in 1991 at a very young age and subsequently delivered three albums: “Wisdom” (1993), “Skin” (1994), and “LetDownCrush” (1996). On those albums he worked with several co-producers including David Ogilvie (Nine Inch Nails, Skinny Puppy), Keith “Fluffy” Auerbach (Ministry), Jeff “Critter” Newell (Ministry, Angels & Airwaves, Blink-182), and special guests William Tucker (Ministry), Marc LaCorte (Schecter Guitars), and Bryan Black (Black Asteroid).

16volt then brought on producer Bill Kennedy (Nine Inch Nails, Megadeth, Sepultura, Mötley Crüe) to make the album “SuperCoolNothing” (1998, Mercury/PolyGram) featuring film composer and musician Joseph Bishara (Insidious, The Conjuring, Marylin Manson, Danzig), Chris Vrenna (Nine Inch Nails), Mike Peoples (Skrew), and Kraig Tyler (Crazytown). With Polygram being acquired by Seagrams shortly before the album release, 16volt found themselves in the middle of a legal battle while Mercury lost all funding and moved the album to Island Records as a catalog item.

In the end the band bought the rights to the album in 2000 and signed an agreement with Sony Entertainment to feature the album within the Playstation game “Primal” as well as being a double release in Europe with the game on one disc and the album on another. The band was also skinned into the game as characters and included in interviews as in-game bonus material.

In 2007 16volt signed a multi-album deal with Metropolis Records and released “FullBlackHabit” (2007), “American Porn Songs” (2009), and “Beating Dead Horses” (2012) with guests such as Paul Raven (Ministry, Killing Joke, Prong); Steve White (KMFDM); Bildeaux (Lance Herbstrong) and mix engineer Shaun Thingvold (Strapping Young Lad, Lamb of God).

In early 2016 16volt entered the recording studio in Portland, Oregon to begin writing and recording a new album with producer Marc Jordan (Velvet Revolver, The Cult, Stitched Up Heart, The Mowglis, Hyro Da Hero, Bleached, Die Antwoord). The new album titled “The Negative Space” was released independently on September 14, 2016. In early 2017, 16volt entered the studio to begin work on their 10th album effort “Dead On Arrivals” which was self-produced and released in October of 2017.

During the summer of 2021, Eric began working on material again in his private studio. In the Fall of 2022, 16volt announced resigning with Metropolis Records and began work on a new album titled “More of Less” slated for a 2024 release. In addition, Metropolis now re-issues a combined version with select tracks of the albums “The Negative Space” and “Dead On Arrivals” titled “NegativeOnArrivals”.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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(Photo by Therese Aldgård) Out on Friday but already available to order is the all new single from Sjöblom: “Fly Away With Me”. “Fly Away With Me” is taken from the band’s upcoming album, “Dead of Night”, to be released on COP International.

The single holds also two remixes of the title track Mark Hockings (Mesh / blackcarburning) and Chris Vrenna (Nine Inch Nails, Marilyn Manson) and was recorded and produced by Jon Bordon and Sjöblom. The mastering was executed by Jon Bordon.

Sjöblom is a Swedish indie project, formed in 2016 in Stockholm by Johan Sjöblom Eliot, also member of Swedish post-punk band The Exploding Boy, and Robert Eklind, previously in the band Malaise. 2 albums have already been released, with a new one out later this year.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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Out on May 3rd via Metropolis Records is the release of the 16Volt album”NegativeOnArrivals”.

It holds condensed versions of the two most recent albums are being reissued on 3rd May as the single disc “NegativeOnArrivals”, with Powell stating: “I am excited to get this material out to a larger base through Metropolis! The collection of tracks was created during a hard time in my life and to feel them set free together is a great exorcism, I hope everyone enjoys them as we get warmed up for our new album.”

You can pre-order the album right here. Below is the artwork.

In further news, after a period of inactivity that saw 16Volt unable to tour, Powell began working on new material in his studio and re-signed with Metropolis Records for a brand new album entitled “More Of Less” to be issued later in 2024.

Here’s already the video for “The Last Time” featured on the new album.

About 16Volt

With roots dating back to the early days of the industrial rock genre, 16Volt have been successfully crossing over into multiple related genres for over three decades and retained a healthy worldwide fanbase while doing so.

Group founder, songwriter, lead vocalist, programmer and rhythm guitarist Eric Powell actually signed his first record deal in 1991 while still in his teens and delivered three albums in swift succession – “Wisdom” (1993), “Skin” (1994) and “LetDownCrush” (1996) – that saw him working alongside co-producers such as David Ogilvie (Nine Inch Nails, Skinny Puppy), Keith ‘Fluffy’ Auerbach (Ministry) and Jeff ‘Critter’ Newell (Ministry, Angels & Airwaves, blink-182), as well as guest musicians like William Tucker (Ministry), Marc LaCorte (Schecter Guitars) and Bryan Black (Black Asteroid). Earning both critical praise and pole positions on the US Alternative Chart and at College Radio, the band also built a significant live following as they toured extensively around North America and eventuallly signed a major deal with Mercury Records.

Producer Bill Kennedy (Nine Inch Nails, Megadeth, Sepultura, Mötley Crüe) was hired to help make “SuperCoolNothing” (1998), which featured appearances from film composer Joseph Bishara (Insidious, The Conjuring, Marylin Manson, Danzig), Chris Vrenna (Nine Inch Nails), Mike Peoples (Skrew) and Kraig Tyler (Crazytown), but the group soon found themselves in the middle of a legal battle shortly before album release when their label was bought by Seagram and its funding was cut. However, in a genius move, Powell was able to buy back the rights and made a deal with Sony to feature it within the Playstation game “Primal” as well as a two-disc European release that included both the album and the game with the band skinned in as characters and utilised as in-game bonus material.

The mid-’00s saw 16Volt sign to Metropolis Records and release the albums “FullBlackHabit” (2007), “American Porn Songs” (2009) and “Beating Dead Horses” (2012), which featured guests such as Paul Raven (Ministry, Killing Joke, Prong), Steve White (KMFDM) and Bildeaux (Lance Herbstrong), as well as mix engineer Shaun Thingvold (Strapping Young Lad, Lamb of God).

Meanwhile, an extensive touring schedule was maintained that included stints with KMFDM, Korn, Filter, Chemlab, Orgy, Prong, Stabbing Westward, Revolting Cocks, Fear Factory, Front Line Assembly, My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult, Front 242 and more, as well as multiple successful headlining tours in their own right.

2016 saw the release of “The Negative Space”, produced by Marc Jordan (Velvet Revolver, The Cult, Hyro Da Hero, Die Antwoord), with “Dead On Arrivals” following a year later.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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The French industrial rock band Divine Shade, based in Lyon, has just released a new version of their latest single “Stars” remixed by Chris Vrenna (former Nine Inch Nails). The track is renamed “The Stars Eclipsed” which will introduce a first album translated into a trilogy of EPs : “Fragments”.

The band was established by musician Ren Toner in 2014 and offers a blend of styles and influences inspired by cold wave culture, with a hint of industrial and electronic music.

You can check out the official video below.

And here’s the download via Bandcamp.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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(Photo by Kevin Condon/WeirdHours) Fresh off of tour runs in Europe and North America with The Sisters of Mercy, Clan of Xymox, and Then Comes Silence respectively, Metropolis welcomes Brooklyn’s A Cloud of Ravens to the Metropolis Records family. Side-Line covered this band several times already.

Singer/guitarist Matt McIntosh and bassist Beth Narducci formed A Cloud of Ravens in the autumn of 2018. The 2021 full-length album “Another Kind of Midnight” was their breakthrough release merging classic and contemporary post-punk and darkwave. A remix EP followed, featuring reimagined tracks by artists such as Actors, Clan of Xymox, Chris Vrenna, John Fryer, and Ritual Howls.

A Cloud of Ravens’ most recent album “Lost Hymns” was released by Schubert Music Europe’s Nexilis imprint, and is now being brought to North American audiences by Metropolis Records in its original form on all digital platforms. Expect an extended version of the album with bonus remixes and a new exclusive track from Metropolis in the coming months.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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Nine Inch Nails’ reunion concert including former members, held on September 24, 2022, at the Blossom Music Center, marked an event more than two years in the making. Led by Trent Reznor, who originally founded NIN in Cleveland back in 1988, the concert saw the return of former band members who had not performed with the group in nearly two decades.

Among the notable returning members were guitarist Richard Patrick, who had departed following the 1991 “Pretty Hate Machine Tour,” and drummer Chris Vrenna, who had moved on after Nine Inch Nails reached international fame with “The Downward Spiral.” The long-awaited reunion, initially scheduled for 2020 to coincide with Nine Inch Nails’ induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, faced postponement due to the COVID-19 lockdowns that gripped the world.

However, with the easing of the pandemic in 2022, Nine Inch Nails seized the opportunity and announced a “one night only” concert at the Blossom Music Center for the occasion. Prior to the performance, Trent Reznor and the former bandmates reunited for a panel discussion at the Rock Hall, reminiscing about their time together and the journey that led them to this momentous event.

At the concert, the crowd was treated to an electrifying performance as the former bandmates graced the stage to play beloved fan favorites, including “Eraser,” “Wish,” “Sin,” and “Gave Up.”

But the highlight of the night came when Richard Patrick picked up his guitar and sang “Hey Man Nice Shot,” a hit from his band Filter, which he founded after departing Nine Inch Nails in 1993.

Reflecting on the night, Richard Patrick expressed his overwhelming gratitude for the audience’s love and support, calling the experience a defining moment in his life. Reznor from his side posted on his Discord after the show, “When/If we tour again, it will be different. Not like [2018′s “Cold Black Infinite” tour] era – It’s over.”

About Nine Inch Nails

Nine Inch Nails formed in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1988 as the recording project of Trent Reznor. Working as an assistant engineer at Right Track Studios and inspired by Prince’s practice of playing every instrument himself, Reznor recorded demos alone, programming drums and playing the rest, and performed under a band name despite being its sole permanent member. Nine Inch Nails played its first live show on 27 October 1988 in Pittsburgh, and released its debut album, “Pretty Hate Machine,” through TVT Records in 1989.

After a contractual dispute with TVT, Reznor signed with Interscope Records and founded his own imprint, Nothing Records, releasing “The Downward Spiral” in 1994 and “The Fragile” in September 1999. The band left Interscope after “Year Zero” (2007) and self-released the instrumental “Ghosts I-IV” (2008) through the Null Corporation before returning to major-label releases with “Hesitation Marks” (2013), “Bad Witch” (2018) and the companion albums “Ghosts V: Together” and “Ghosts VI: Locusts” (both 2020).

English musician Atticus Ross became an official member in 2016 after years of production work with Reznor, including their Academy Award and Golden Globe-winning score for David Fincher’s “The Social Network” (2010). Guitarist Robin Finck first joined in 1994 and has rejoined the touring band multiple times since; drummer Josh Freese first joined in 2005. Nine Inch Nails was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on 7 November 2020, alongside Ross, Finck and other past members. Nine Inch Nails’ touring lineup has included guitarist Robin Finck, who first joined in 1994 and has rejoined the band multiple times since.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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Following a year marked by a major UK tour supporting Gary Numan, the French dark electronic band Divine Shade is seeking to maintain their momentum by launching a crowdfunding campaign for their EP trilogy, “Fragments”.

The band explains it as follows: “2022 was a great new start for Divine Shade. Traveling in Europe and back from a major UK tour supporting Gary Numan we would like to continue to ride on these good vibes and we want to keep giving our best for you. Here is our new conceptual project : A trilogy of EPs called : “Fragments”. 3 Eps with original songs with surprises, guests and friends. We need you to help us finance the project. Each EP will feature : 4 songs – 4 remixes – 1 music video. To thank you for your participation there are goodies ! Thank you everyone !”

The project: The “Fragments” trilogy, consisting of three EPs (Volume 1, 2, and 3), will feature original songs, surprise guests, and collaborations. Each EP will include four songs, four remixes, and an accompanying music video.

Contribution levels and perks: Supporters of the crowdfunding campaign can enjoy various perks based on their contribution level, such as having their name in the EP credits, digital and physical copies of the EPs, and bundles that come with shirts, stickers, posters, and original artwork.

About Divine Shade

Divine Shade, a brainchild of musician Ren Toner, was established in 2014. The band’s diverse styles and influences draw from cold wave culture, along with industrial and electronic music elements. Among their musical inspirations are Nine Inch Nails, Young Gods, and Gary Numan.

The dark electronic group has released two EPs and several remixes in collaboration with Chris Vrenna (formerly of Nine Inch Nails) and has completed three European tours in recent years.

Here’s their latest single, “Stars”.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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(Photo by Kevin W Condon) As we mentioned earlier, the Brooklyn post-punk pair A Cloud of Ravens recently released their latest single, “Parable,” following “Requiem For The Sun.” We also indicated that a video was being produced. Today, we have the exclusive premiere of this new video.

The band shares their thoughts on the song: “While rich in metaphor, ‘Parable’ poses the question – how extreme must circumstances become in our world for us to recognize, both socially and culturally, that perhaps we need a shift in how we respect each other, the pointlessness of war, and our treatment of the environment? We share one planet, and we’re all in this together, whether we like it or not. Isn’t the path of least resistance ultimately the most logical choice?”

“Parable” serves as the final single from their upcoming “Lost Hymns” LP. Recorded between spring and autumn 2021 and mastered by Actors’ Jason Corbett at Jacknife Sound studio, this 11-track album will be released through Nexilis Records / Schubert Music Europe on April 28.

Here’s the “Parable” video.

Formed in 2018 by Matthew McIntosh (guitar and vocals) and Beth Narducci (bass guitar), the Brooklyn-based duo released a series of self-released offerings that led to their 2021 album “Another Kind of Midnight”. A Cloud of Ravens’ subsequent remix-based EP featured contributions by legendary producer John Fryer and such prominent artists as Clan of Xymox, Actors, Chris Vrenna and Ritual Howls.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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(Photo by Kevin W Condon) The Brooklyn post-punk duo A Cloud of Ravens has a new single out, “Parable”. “Parable” comes following “Requiem For The Sun”. A video is in the making, watch out for a premiere on Side-Line.

Here’s what the band says about the song: “Though dense in metaphor, ‘Parable’ is asking – how dire do things need to get in this world for us to realize, as a society and culturally, that maybe something needs to shift as far as how we honor each other, the futility of war, and how we treat the environment? We’ve got one planet, and we’re on it together whether we like it or not. Doesn’t the path of least resistance ultimately make the most sense?”

“Parable” is the final single from their forthcoming “Lost Hymns” LP. Recorded from spring to autumn 2021 and mastered by Actors’ Jason Corbett at his Jacknife Sound studio, this collection of 11 tracks will be released via Nexilis Records / Schubert Music Europe on April 28.

Formed in 2018 by Matthew McIntosh (guitar and vocals) and Beth Narducci (bass guitar), the Brooklyn-based duo released a series of self-released offerings that led to their 2021 album “Another Kind of Midnight”. A Cloud of Ravens’ subsequent remix-based EP featured contributions by legendary producer John Fryer and such prominent artists as Clan of Xymox, Actors, Chris Vrenna and Ritual Howls.

A Cloud of Ravens will launch a European tour with Then Comes Silence in April-May, followed by North American dates with Clan of Xymox and Curse Mackey in May-June.

Tourdates

• Apr 15 Baltimore, MD – Dark Spring Baltimore
• Apr 22 Stockholm, Sweden – Klubb DÖD *
• Apr 29 Madrid, Spain – DarkMad *
• Apr 30 Madrid, Spain – DarkMad *
• May 05 Hannover, Germany – Subkultur *
• May 06 Liège, Belgium – Le Garage Creative Music *
• May 07 Liège, Belgium – Le Garage Creative Music *
• May 09 Hamburg, Germany – Headcrash *
• May 10 Hamburg, Germany – Bastard Club *
• May 11 Berlin, Germany – Wild at Heart *
• May 12 Antwerpen, Belgium – Fetish Café *
• May 13 Köln, Germany – Artheater *
• May 31 San Antonio, TX – Paper Tiger **
• June 01 Houston, TX – Numbers Night Club **
• June 02 Austin, TX – Elysium Austin **
• June 03 Dallas, TX – Granada Theater **
• June 05 Albuquerque, NM – Launchpad **
• June 06 Denver, CO – Oriental Theater **
• June 07 Salt Lake City, UT – Metro Music Hall **
• June 09 Seattle, WA – El Corazon **
• June 10 Vancouver, BC – Rickshaw Theatre **
• June 11 Portland, OR – Star Theater **
• June 13 San Francisco, CA – August Hall **
• June 14 Costa Mesa, CA – The Wayfarer **
• June 15 San Diego, CA – Brick By Brick **
• June 16 Los Angeles, CA – Regent Theater DTLA **
• July 21 Meschede, Germany – Live Am See *

* tour dates with Then Comes Silence
** tour dates with Clan of Xymox & Curse Mackey

Videos

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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The Lyon, France, based darkwave act Divine Shade has just unveiled its new single, “Stars”. The track was performed live during Divine Shade’s set in support of Gary Numan’s 2022 UK tour and is now being released as a single.

The song’s theme is simple. “It addresses the concept of our ‘inner child’ disappearing over time”, says, Rémi Thonnerieux, “I wrote this song to talk about the fact that love and resilience are the true paths to dreaming again.”

The song will also be part of a big musical project to be announced in 2023.

“Stars” was produced by Ren Toner and features Shan Moue on additional vocals. “Stars” is available on all major digital platforms including Bandcamp.

Here’s the official video for “Stars”.

Divine Shade was formed by musician Ren Toner in 2014. The band released two EPs and several remixes with Chris Vrenna (formerly Nine Inch Nails) and did three European tours in recent years including as the opening act for the Gary Numan‘s 2022 UK tour. A new project for Divine Shade will be announced in early 2023.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

side-line.com

The Lyon, France based darkwave act Divine Shade have released a new song “Stars” (featuring Shan Moue). It will be part of a bigger musical project which will be announced in 2023. The band have just returned from a major UK tour supporting Gary Numan playing twenty concerts including the Wembley Arena in front of 12,000 people.

The band was formed by musician Ren Toner in 2014 and offers a combination of styles and influences inspired by cold wave culture with a touch of industrial and electronic music. They released two EPs and several remixes with Chris Vrenna (former Nine Inch Nails) and did 3 European tours.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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(Photo by Kevin W Condon) NYC-based post-punk duo A Cloud of Ravens present their new single “Nature of Artifice”, the second single of their third full-length album “Lost Hymns”, to be released in early 2023 via Berlin-based Nexilis Records, a division of Schubert Music Europe. The single follows the release of the lead track “The Blackest Mantra”. “Nature of Artifice” will be available across digital outlets, including Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon and Bandcamp from tomorrow on but you can already check it below.

“The song ‘Nature of Artifice’ is about choosing to bury your head in the sand, rather than confronting glaring societal ills and moral injustices. It’s easier to get lost in the minutia of our click and swipe modern world than watch its blessings crumble around us. To some extent, none of us are blameless,” says founding member Matthew McIntosh.

Formed in 2018 in Brooklyn by Matthew McIntosh (guitar and vocals) and Beth Narducci (bass guitar), the duo began work on this new album in the spring of 2021. Completed by autumn, the LP was mastered by Actors’ Jason Corbettat Jacknife Sound studio in Vancouver. The new album is the follow-up to the 2021 LP “Another Kind of Midnight”. Their subsequent remix-based EP featured reimagined tracks by John Fryer and artists like Clan of Xymox, ACTORS, Chris Vrenna and Ritual Howls.

The full “Lost Hymns” album will be released on February 24, 2023.

Here’s the vide for “Nature of Artifice”

And this is the video for the previous single “The Blackest Mantra”.

Tour dates (with Clan of Xymox & Curse Mackey)

• Wed, May 31 – San Antonio TX
• Thu, June 1 – Houston TX
• Fri, June 2 – Austin TX
• Sat, June 3 – Dallas TX
• Mon, June 5 – Albuquerque NM
• Tue, June 6 – Denver CO
• Wed, June 7 – Salt Lake City UT
• Fri, June 9 – Seattle WA
• Sat, June 10 – Vancouver BC
• Sun, June 11 – Portland OR
• Tue, June 13 – San Francisco CA
• Wed, June 14 – Costa Mesa CA
• Thu, June 15 – San Diego CA
• Fri, June 16 – Los Angeles CA

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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The Burbank (CA, USA) based synthpop act Discothèque has just released their first Remix EP “Remixed Vol. 1”. The EP contains remixes by Battery Operated Orchestra, KMFDM, Chris Vrenna, Doug Beck and Discothèque for the 6 tracks “Disconnect”, “Metaphysical”, “Into Shadows”, “This Is A Warning”, “Die For Love” and “I Am The Echo”.

The EP is available as a free download and will be available exclusively on Bandcamp until October 1st, at which point it will be available on all streaming services.

Discothèque features LA based vocalist Andrea Becker and Stabbing Westward, Prick, TheThe, and Exotic Birds alumnus Andrew Kubiszewski.

Here’s the EP.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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Today, the Brooklyn-based gothic rock duo A Cloud of Ravens have released “Another Kind of Midnight: The Remixes”, I an EP featuring remixes by Clan of Xymox, Actors, Chris Vrenna, John Fryer, Ritual Howls, Tummyache and Ego Likeness.

Formed in the fall of 2018 by Beth (bass guitar) and Matthew (guitar/vocals) the band is centered around their longstanding and shared admiration of bands and artists that defined the stark, minimal dramaticism of the initial post-punk era, and all its related subgenres. The band quickly self-released their first single, closely followed by the “Sacred Hearts” EP and their full-length album “In the Wicked Hours”.

The duo signed with American independent label Cleopatra Records to issue their new full-length offering “Another Kind of Midnight” and now they offer the remix EP “Another Kind of Midnight: The Remixes”.

The release is available from Cleopatra Records on all digital and streaming platforms.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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A few days ago we announced that you could listen to a superb free remix by Apoptygma Berzerk of the Mortiis track “Sins of Mine”.

Good news, that remix is now available as a free download from the Mortiss Bandcamp page. It furthermore includes a remix of “Demons are Back” by Technomancer/Angst Pop. For those familiar with Apoptygma Berzerk, Per Aksel Lundgreen who is behind the projects Technomancer/Angst Pop used to be in Apoptygma Berzerk when the band started out.

It’s not the first time that Mortiis is offering free downloads, here are the previous free download singles which can still be downloaded here:

– “Bleed Like You” – Merzbow & Prurient Remixes
– “The Great Leap” – Godflesh & Chris Vrenna Remixes
– “The Die Krupps & Leather Strip Remixes”

The remix by Apoptygma Berzerk is part a collection of “corrupted” tracks released as “The Great Corrupter”. That album also includes remixes by Chris Vrenna, Rhys Fulber, Die Krupps, John Fryer, GODFLESH, In Slaughter Natives, Raison D´Etre, Je$us Loves Amerika, PIG, and many more, as well as unreleased material from the original “The Great Deceiver” recording sessions.

“The Great Corrupter” is available on vinyl which will be limited to 500 copies in five different vinyl colors (all versions are available via Mortiis’ very own webstore), limited to 100 copies each, with a unique center-opening gatefold. Four vinyl colors will come with its own exclusive poster, only available with that specific color, and one with a large woven patch.

The CD version will be made up of eight-panel, DVD sized Digipak, containing a 24-page booklet of exclusive photos. The set (available here) will also include additional remixes exclusive to the deluxe CD package. This package will include download cards for three previously unreleased uncensored videos. This deluxe version will also be limited to 500, after which the CD will be available in a less elaborate standard format. The CD version is also available digitally right here on iTunes.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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(Photo by Sebastian Ludvigsen) On the latest single from “The Great Corrupter“, Norwegian “futurepop” group Apoptygma Berzerk transforms Mortiis’ “Sins of Mine” into a synth-loaded version. Quite a transformation but that is clearly the idea behind Mortiis’ “The Great Corrupter”, namely offering new and sometimes unconventional reworks of the tracks from “The Great Deceiver”.

“Stephan from Apoptygma Berzerk really twisted ‘Sins of Mine’ into a way more accessible format, which I really liked,” says Mortiis. “When I made that track, it was this semi-dissonant, somber piece about hopelessness and just giving up and letting past guilts and crimes wash over me and undo me, just make me disappear. So it was really dark. Stephan twisted it around to become this way more accessible, yet very uncommercial song, still about the darkness that follows guilt. Those wonderful feelings were kept intact.” 

Mortiis himself was even able to add a little to the Apoptygma Berzerk version of the song. “I had this one line from the lyrics that I could never seem to fit in, so it was left out,” he said. “But Stephan wanted me to come in and add some new vocals, so I was able to put it in there. I simply repeated it, like some sort of mantra.”

You can listen to the Apoptygma Berzerk remix right below. The collection of “corrupted” tracks also includes remixes Chris Vrenna, Rhys Fulber, Die Krupps, John Fryer, GODFLESH, In Slaughter Natives, Raison D´Etre, Je$us Loves Amerika, PIG, and many more, as well unreleased material from the original “The Great Deceiver” recording sessions.

“The Great Corrupter” is also available on a vinyl which will be limited to 500 copies in five different vinyl colors (all versions are available via Mortiis’ very own webstore), limited to 100 copies each, with a unique center-opening gatefold. Four vinyl colors will come with its own exclusive poster, only available with that specific color, and one with a large woven patch.

The CD version will be made up of eight-panel, DVD sized Digipak, containing a 24-page booklet of exclusive photos. The set (available here) will also include additional remixes exclusive to the deluxe CD package. This package will include download cards for three previously unreleased uncensored videos. This deluxe version will also be limited to 500, after which the CD will be available in a less elaborate standard format. The CD version is also available digitally right here on iTunes.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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PIG promoted the UK release of his current studio album ‘The Gospel’ with a recent UK tour where the band jointly headlined with Mortiis. PIG mainman Raymond Watts and Mortiis have also recently reworked one of each other’s songs for new remix records, Mortiis’ remix album being called “The Great Corrupter” (more info here).

Appropriately entitled “Swine & Punishment” (available right here), PIG’s latest record will contain reworks by Skold, Marc Heal, Android Lust, Kanga, London After Midnight, Indradevi, Mortiis, Chris Vrenna, Pull Out Kings, Inertia, Joe Haze. Even Watts himself joins in for a special remix.

The album also holds the track “Violence”, previously only obtainable on the vinyl format of “The Gospel”.

For now you can enjoy the Mortiis remix of “Viva Evil” by PIG.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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The latest single from Mortiis’ “The Great Corrupter” album comes courtesy of the Japanese dark ambient-noise artist Merzbow, who twists “Bleed Like You” into a completely new form. Check out the Merzbow Remix below.

In a reaction Mortiis says: “This is not a remix – it´s abuse, the good kind. If you prefer your music traditional, and your audio all pleasant and polished, you should consider walking away now. It is Merzbow mutilating Mortiis. I never really thought that that was going happen, and I don´t think anyone else did either!”

The radical remix also is visible in the artwork used for the single: “We’ve been trying to think a bit different art-wise for the last few singles,” said Mortiis. “I thought the time was right to try art directions that were not typical of Mortiis to take. The Merzbow remix single art is another idea I’ve had for a long time. As usual, it’s morphed from the original idea, into a different beast almost entirely, in time. But what else is new?”

Mortiis’ “The Great Corrupter” is due for release on April 21, and is a collection of tracks from “The Great Deceiver” album, deconstructed and ‘corrupted’. Other artists who remixed Mortiss for this occasion include Chris Vrenna, Rhys Fulber, Die Krupps, John Fryer, GODFLESH, Apoptygma Berzerk, In Slaughter Natives, Raison D´Etre, Je$us Loves Amerika, PIG, and many more. The record will also contain unreleased material from the original recording sessions.

Each of the record’s formats will be as its own art package with collectible artwork, including limited edition colored vinyl and a limited edition DVD sized double-CD Digipak with additional exclusive remixes and many other extras. “The Great Corrupter” can be preordered on LP and CD directly from Mortiis´ webstore!

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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Raymond Watts’s PIG and Mortiis are to co-headline a UK-tour in March. PIG are promoting their recently released album, “The Gospel” (available on vinyl too). Raymond Watts has enlisted former KMFDM colleagues En Esch and Günter Schulz, Greg Steward aka Z.Marr (formerly of Combichrist) and Galen Waling (Left Spine Down/16 Volt) for the live line-up.

PIG and Mortiis have recently reworked one of each other’s songs for new remix records. PIG’s is entitled “Swine & Punishment” and will be released in May. It also features remixes by the likes of Chris Vrenna (as Tweaker), Kanga, Skold and Marc Heal of Cubanate (as MC Lord Of The Flies).

Dates are as follows :

• 10.03.17 NOTTINGHAM Rescue Rooms
• 11.03.17 GLASGOW Ivory Blacks
• 12.03.17 NEWCASTLE Think Tank
• 13.03.17 YORK Fibbers
• 14.03.17 SHEFFIELD Plug
• 15.03.17 MANCHESTER Ruby Lounge
• 16.03.17 BRISTOL The Fleece
• 17.03.17 NORWICH Epic Studios
• 18.03.17 LONDON The Garage

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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Genre/Influences: Electronic, industrial-pop & dance.

Background/Info: Army Of the Universe is an Italian formation based in L.A (USA). Set up by Albert Vorne (aka ‘Trebla’) and singer Lord K they later on were  joined by guitarist Davide Tavecchia. Chris Vrenna (NIN, Marilyn Manson, Tweaker) joined in to co-produce the debut album “Mother Ignorance” (2011). This year they released their third album to date.

Content: There are a lot of influences running throughout this work. It takes off with a hard and somewhat Prodigy-like sound mixing elements of rock, punk and electro. Quite progressively Army Of The Universe is experimenting other influences like trance, techno and pop while holding on a kind of naughty industrial sound basis.

They now accentuate the guitar playing and next transform themselves into mad sound manipulators creating heavy, blasting sounds and other filtered bleeps.

+ + + : “1999 & The Aftershow” sounds versatile, but the diversity will for sure catch the attention of a wider audience. I however prefer their harder cuts that somewhat remind me of The Prodigy and reveal a fusion between different influences. “Digital Slag” and “1999” both are great exponents in this genre. Army Of The Universe also confirms great skills liking to transform electronic sounds into a harder, industrial format.

– – – : Some dance-pop orientated cuts are not the most convincing part of the work, which in my opinion don’t totally fit with their harder ‘industrial’ side. Mixing different and sometimes opposite genres remains a big challenge where not many bands have succeeded.

Conclusion: Army Of The Universe is an industrial sonic chameleon, which metamorphoses itself into different genres and influences, but be careful with the ‘industrial’-minded side, which is their most dangerous and devastating one.

Best songs: “Digital Slag”, “1999”, “The Aftershow”.

Rate: (7).

Band: www.armyoftheuniverse.com / www.facebook.com/ArmyOfTheUniverse

Label: www.metropolis–records.com / www.facebook.com/MetropolisRecords

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

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Former Nine Inch Nails keyboardist James Woolley passed away this weekend at the age of 50. Woolley was part of the live incarnation of Nine Inch Nails for the 1991 Lollapalooza Tour and also joined in at the first part of the 1994 Self Destruct Tour. You might remember him from his appearance in the “Wish” and the “March of the Pigs” videos.

Previous to NIN, Woolley was a major collaborator along with former NIN drummer Chris Vrenna to the Chicago based band Die Warzau. In 1994, just before NIN hit the road, Woolley contributed heavily to Sister Machine Gun’s album “Torture Technique”.

After he left Nine Inch Nails he made contributions to Die Warzau albums again, particularly 2005’s “Convenience” album. He also briefly played in Rob Halford’s band Two, produced music for a wide array of groups, worked on sound design for The Simpsons (those fart sounds are authentic), and worked on his own tunes for his band VOID which was led by Woolley and features players Jon Roberts, Mark Pearlman, and DJ Aaron Chase.

James Woolley can be seen on the left in the above picture.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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